2024 Best Colleges in Illinois

A few of the country's top schools are located in Chicago, alongside underappreciated gems like the University of Illinois in Chicago. And 17 of the midwest 24 Hispanic serving institutions are located in Illinois, most in Chicago. But don't sleep on University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. While the Fighting Illini have been decidedly mediocre in the Big 10, students can take some solice in the excellent engineering program, one of the best in the country. Considering that Chicago is the third largest city in the US and is surrounded by miles and miles (and miles) of pristine - if flat - countryside, there are relatively few quality liberal arts colleges in the state. 

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13 Results

#1 in Illinois | #20 in Hispanic-serving Institutions
Economic score 1.69

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,139

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $68,740

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Illinois | #52 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Economic score 2.82

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,688

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,656

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 61%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Illinois | #63 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois

Economic score 3.14

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,236

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,313

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Illinois | #69 in Hispanic-serving Institutions
Economic score 3.28

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,409

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $63,926

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Illinois | #78 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Economic score 3.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,768

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $60,327

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Illinois | #81 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

Economic score 3.74

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,553

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,572

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 61%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Illinois | #85 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Economic score 3.90

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,415

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,462

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Illinois | #91 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Economic score 4.11

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,815

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,709

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Illinois | #104 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

Economic score 4.74

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,256

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $54,089

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Illinois | #109 in Hispanic-serving Institutions
Economic score 5.36

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,058

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $47,863

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 78%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Illinois | #130 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois

Economic score 8.73

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,290

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,799

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 62%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Illinois | #131 in Hispanic-serving Institutions

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

Economic score 9.17

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,110

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $48,712

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 59%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

Economic score 4.94

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,209

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $52,234

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 47%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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